By Reena Bhardwaj
WASHINGTON, DC, May 7 (ANI): India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to inaugurate a permanent prosthetic limb center in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Friday as part of a humanitarian initiative supported by one of the world’s largest organizations serving people with disabilities.
The center, established by Jaipur Foot USA in partnership with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, will provide locally manufactured prosthetic limbs to amputees and differently abled individuals in the Caribbean nation.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago will co-preside over the inauguration ceremony.
The project traces its origins to September last year, when Jaipur Foot USA, along with BRUHUD NY Seniors and the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), organized a reception in New York honoring Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar. The event also marked the birthday of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the gathering, Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari publicly announced plans for establishing a permanent center in Trinidad and Tobago.
Representing Jaipur Foot USA at the inauguration will be Ajay Patel, the organization’s Vice President for International Affairs and chief coordinator for the Trinidad project. He will be joined by founding members Dr. Sona Ramdath Jr. and Amit Alagh.
BMVSS founder and Chief Patron D.R. Mehta has deputed Gajender Lamba, an expert in prosthetic fabrication, who has already traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to conduct hands-on training for personnel from the country’s Ministry of Health.
The training focuses on the manufacture and fitting of the Jaipur Foot, a low-cost and durable prosthetic limb designed for tropical and rural conditions.
The initiative builds on a successful 50-day camp held in Trinidad last year, during which more than 800 differently abled individuals received prosthetic limbs free of charge. The camp was supported by the Government of India, a commitment personally made by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Port of Spain.
Bhandari also paid tribute to Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, India’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, describing him as a driving force behind both the 2025 camp and the establishment of the permanent center.
“His pivotal leadership and significant contribution have made this lasting humanitarian initiative possible,” Bhandari said.
The Jaipur Foot, developed in India in 1968, is among the most widely used prosthetic devices in the developing world. BMVSS has rehabilitated more than 2.5 million people across 50 countries through 120 international camps, making it a symbol of India’s grassroots innovation in assistive technology. (ANI)
About The Author
